With flu season right around the corner, Louisiana Healthcare Connections is again encouraging Louisiana residents to get the flu vaccine through its yearly Fluvention® program.
Up to 11% of Americans catch the flu virus each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The flu vaccine has been shown to have many benefits including reduced risk of illness, hospitalization, and even flu-related death.
Louisiana’s Healthcare Connections Fluvention® program offers free resources to help people understand the importance of the flu shot, the risks of flu season, and other preventive measures. The initiative strives to increase flu vaccination rates overall with special attention for high-risk populations by delivering targeted messaging through multiple touchpoints including mailers, phone calls, texting, and local events.
“To help protect against the flu, we encourage people to schedule their flu shot appointments as soon as possible,” said Louisiana Healthcare Connections Chief Medical Officer Stewart Gordon, MD. “While it may seem early, it takes two weeks after getting the shot for the antibodies that protect against the flu to fully develop, so it’s best to act early.”
Louisiana Healthcare Connections has been supporting Louisiana residents since 2011 with its Medicaid plan. For more information about Louisiana Healthcare Connections Fluvention® program and other healthcare support, visit LouisianaHealthConnec.com/Flu.